Pakistani Paralympics power lifter banned for two years for using steroids

New Delhi, Sep 10 : The Paralympics have been hit with its first doping offence, with Pakistani power lifter Naveed Ahmed Butt getting a two year ban for use of steroids.

The International Paralympics Committee (IPC) said on Tuesday that Butt failed a doping test at the Beijing Paralympics Games.

Butt, 37, tested positive for methandienone metabolites, a steroid, and received a two-year ban, the IPC said in a statement.

The urine sample was taken on September 4 in Beijing, two days before the opening ceremony.

"In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, and after a hearing of the IPC anti-doping committee, the IPC ratified the decision to disqualify Butt from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games," the statement said.

Earlier, at the Athens Paralympics 10 athletes tested positive to banned substances after 680 tests were carried out. The top three nations at this stage in the medals tally are China (16 gold, 53 medals in total), Britain (14 gold, 32 in total), and the USA (10 gold, 26 in total).

ANI